Softball Sweeps Final Day, Takes Tournament Title

Saturday, February 8

Buies Creek, N.C.

1 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

3-0

UMass-Lowell

1-2

IPFW

UMass Lowell

Photo by: Dennis Hubbard

Softball Sweeps Final Day, Takes Tournament Title

2/8/2014 8:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

UMASS LOWELL BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)

CAMPBELL BOX SCORE | BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE (.html)

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The IPFW Mastodons swept the final day of the Hampton Inn of Dunn Invitational, hosted by Campbell, winning 9-3 over UMass Lowell, and 5-0 in the nightcap over tournament host Campbell.

The 4-0 start ties the school record for best start to a season, along with the 1993 and 2011 teams that also opened the seasons unblemished through the first four games of the season.

Kayti Hanson went 5-for-6 at the plate on the day, batting .833 while four runs scored, while Larissa Franklin went 4-for-9 with two runs scored. Alex Bousquet drove in a team-best four runs, while Franklin also stole a pair of bases. Miranda Kramer and Megan Flenniken each picked up a win in the circle, with Kramer striking out 10.

IPFW (4-0) never trailed on the day, as the team jumped ahead quickly with a run in the top of the first inning when Hillary Kartman singled home Alex Bousquet, who opened the game with a single to right field.

The Mastodons put up four runs in the second, the first two on a two-run RBI double by Alex Bousquet that scored Hanson and Audrey Mintari. Ashleigh Bousquet followed two batters later with a two-run single that scored her sister and Larissa Franklin, driving home the eventual game-winning run, and pushing IPFW to a 5-0 lead.

The margin grew in the third inning when the Mastodons loaded the bases on back-to-back hit by pitches and an infield single, and was followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Alex Bousquet. Ashleigh Bousquet singled through the right side, scoring Hanson, and putting the Mastodons ahead 7-0.

The River Hawks responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, before Franklin hit an RBI infield single that chased in Hanson. A UMass Lowell run in the sixth was countered by the Mastodons adding a final run on an RBI double from Hanson that scored Beka Ferguson, giving the game its 9-3 final score.

Hanson was 3-for-4 in the game, while Franklin was 3-for-5. Alex and Ashleigh Bousquet each had two hits and three RBI's, while Hanson scored three times in the win.

Flenniken picked up the victory, improving to 2-0 on the season, as she struck out five over five innings of work, scattering two hits and walking one. Kaitlyn Biere pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out one and giving up two hits and allowing an unearned run.

Facing tournament host Campbell in the nightcap, both teams struggled out of the gate to find the scoreboard, until IPFW finally crossed the plate in the top of the fourth inning. Caitlyn DeLong doubled to open the inning, before being advanced to third on an Emily Olszewski sacrifice bunt. A batter later Hanson hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring DeLong for the eventual game-winning run.

After a scoreless fifth, the Mastodon offense came awake in the sixth inning, starting with a DeLong walk and a Olszewski sacrifice bunt. A Hanson double put runners on second and third, before Alex Bousquet drove in in DeLong with a groundout, before Franklin singled to the second baseman, scoring Hanson. After a walk to Ashleigh Bousquet, Dani Pugh doubled to right field, scoring Franklin and Ashleigh Bousquet, giving the game its 5-0 final score.

Kramer picked up her second consecutive shutout, striking out 10 in seven innings of work, giving up just one hit and walking four. Pugh was 3-for-4 at the plate, while DeLong scored twice.

The Mastodons will look to gain sole possession of the best start in program history on February 14-16 when the team will face off against Louisiana Tech, Texas, and Kentucky at the Texas Tournament. The Mastodons will face off against Louisiana Tech at 2 p.m. on February 14, before facing tournament host Texas later that evening. A noon start against Kentucky closes out the regular portion, as the Mastodons will see another two games against the same three teams. All five games for the weekend for the Mastodons will be broadcast on the Longhorn ESPN Network.

~ Feel the Rumble ~